only

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Being the single one of its kind; with no others.

   He is the only doctor for miles.

2. 2
   adv

   And no one or nothing more; just.

   Call me only if your cold gets worse.

3. 3
   adv

   As recently as; no earlier than.

   I spoke to them only an hour ago.

4. 4
   adv

   Used to show a disappointing or unexpected result.

   I arrived on time only to find the bus had already left.

5. 5
   adj

   Having no brothers or sisters.

   He is an only child.

Common collocations

• only child Adjective + noun
• only daughter Adjective + noun
• only son Adjective + noun

From Middle English oonly, only, from Old English ānlīċ, ǣnlīċ (“only; singular; solitary”), from Proto-Germanic *ainalīkaz. Cognate with obsolete Dutch eenlijk, German ähnlich (“similar”), Old Norse álíkr, Swedish enlig (“unified”). By surface analysis, on(e) + -ly. * Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.

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